What Is the User Interface for the Physical Web?

The most common user interface for the Physical Web is a finger swipe from the top of a mobile display. Once enabled on iOS, the user’s Today screen will show nearby beacons via a widget. On Android, if enabled, the Notifications screen is where users will see beacons.

The second most common interface is with a mobile app, where users select a button or tab while in-app to scan for nearby content. Google provides open-source app code that makes it possible for developers to build their own standalone scanners. The PHY.net SDK can be used for the same purpose in addition to its use in making it compatible with the Physical Web. We expect this will result in a growing number of choices for consumers, allowing them to find one that they prefer.